Drafting Wendy Davis for governor UPDATE

UPDATE: Add Battleground Texas to the list of groups with a “We Want Wendy” campaign.

“You can’t win big elections without great candidates. And Wendy Davis would be a great candidate for governor,” said an email from Jenn Brown, executive director of Battleground Texas, to supporters.

“Texas voters are waiting for a candidate like Wendy to step up and do something no Democrat has done for more than two decades in this state: win a statewide race,” Brown wrote. “I believe she can do it. But before she makes a decision, Wendy needs to know that you’re behind her. Ask her to run for governor, and claim your free ‘We Want Wendy’ sticker.”

Davis staffer Sonya Grogg said by email, “Wendy is honored by the support and enthusiasm of so many individuals and organizations across Texas. Texans are ready for new leadership, and are making their voices heard.”

Grogg said a day earlier that an “official announcement” of Davis’s plans will come soon after Labor Day.

UPDATE: It’s a good day to launch a Wendy-Davis-for-Governor campaign, it seems — at least if you’re a Davis supporter. The potential candidate is still holding her fire.

The same day Annie’s List unveiled its campaign to urge Davis to the top of the ballot, the Texas Democratic Party launched an effort to allow people to show their support for such a run.

Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said in a statement:

“You can’t go anywhere in this state without hearing Texans say that they want Wendy Davis to be their next Governor. Texas is ready for a change – and ready for a leader who will fight for good schools for our children, equal pay for equal work, and for healthcare for our families. Senator Davis is that leader.

“We know she can win this race. Wendy has faced long odds before — and they’ve never stopped her. But before she decides to run, we need to show her that we have her back. Texans are excited to do the work to elected Wendy as our next Governor. And today shows just how excited they are.”

Party spokeswoman Tanene Allison said the efforts are being driven by grassroots energy.

ORIGINAL POST:The pressure is mounting on Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth to run for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Annie’s List, whose self-described goal is electing progressive Democratic women, said Tuesday it has launched a campaign to encourage her to aim at the Governor’s Mansion.

The group’s executive director, Grace Ann Garcia, said it recruited Davis to run an uphill battle for state Senate in 2008 and since then “has always had her back,” providing training, staff and more than $665,000 for her campaigns.

“Everywhere we go across this state, Texans are raising their voices to encourage Wendy to run for governor. WeWantWendyDavis.com gives a vehicle to the groundswell of support she has and the desire that Texans have for a candidate who will fight for the middle class, women, and education here in Texas,” Garcia said in a statement.

The website features a photo of Davis with Democratic Senate colleagues under the words, “We Want Wendy! Education. Health Care. Equal Pay.”

It urges, “Sign up to let Wendy know that she should run for governor. And that if she does, we’ve got her back.” It provides a chance to donate.

One of the lawmakers in the photo, Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, put in a word on Twitter Monday night, tweeting, “I’m trying to identify 1 million voters who think Wendy Davis should run for governor. Help me by retweeting this message.”